WebSDR – 2026-04-21 05:55

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*Suspenseful music* . This is WB7MAX, net control for the West Coast Fibre Study, we're looking for check-ins today, please come down with your call sign. Alright, we've got about three minutes to go before we get started with our Bible study on the West Coast Bible Study. We are looking at Ephesians 2:11-22. Any stations needing to check in, please come down with your cohort. W7SAB and Alpha Alpha 5 Yankee W7SAB and Alpha Alpha 5 Yankee, good morning Sandy and good morning Beck, how are you guys doing? We're doing pretty good. How about yourself? Well, I'm doing all right here, trying to juggle the, uh, the, uh, uh, the pulling pins in the air here, uh, but we're doing okay. I got good copy on you, Beck, on the, uh, Half Moon Bay SPR. Appreciate you being there. Uh, how's my signal there, Beck? What are you reading on your altimeter? Over. It looks like you're at S9, S9 on the Utah, and I have you direct. Great, I'm glad you have me direct. That's wonderful. Okay, Beck, we got you checked in. Do you understand? Do you have any prayer requests? Over, go ahead. No, sir, we're doing great. Thank you so much, and I'm going to be a listener today. Alright, thank you for that, Beck. Appreciate that. And you're welcome to pipe up any time that's suitable for you. But if you want to be a listener, that's perfectly fine too. Thank you for that, Beck. Alright, any other check-ins this morning, please come now. *train noise* Alright, we've got about 30 seconds to go before we get started with the West Coast Bible Study. Are there any more stations you would like to check in? Please come down here closer. Good signal, WB7VZL. Alright, Roger. Good signal on you too. Appreciate you being there, brother. And thank you for the check-in. How are you guys doing? Over. Well, keep praying. We're in the process of preparing Autumn for a segment, the last segment of her probation to be basically on her bike, no car. I don't know how this is going to work, but she's quite optimistic and we've invested in what she needs for the next six months, so to speak. Copy that, yep. So she needs to ride a bike and not drive a car because she hasn't got a license apparently. Is she going to be able to move out here pretty quick, Roger? Well, yeah, I would say, yes, she does have a license and she's a very good driver, good driving record, fortunately. Okay, good, all right. But she just needs a bike to get around. Okay, real good, Roger. Thank you for that. All right, we'll continue to pray along those lines. All right, WB7MX here. Any more check-ins, please come now. Any relays? All right, tonight we'd like to acknowledge Peter, KJ7BA, good morning Peter, see you there on the Utah SDR, thank you for being with us once again. All right, that's Peter, KJ7BA. Peter says good morning to everyone. The net would also like to acknowledge Gene, K7GWR. Good morning, Gene. Good to have you with us as well. All right, that's Gene, K7GWR. Let's see if there's anyone else I've missed on the SDRs. I think I've got everyone pretty well checked in on Utah and Half Moon Bay. Let's see, who do we have there? All right, I think we've got everybody checked in there. All right, this is WB7MX, Net Control for the West Coast Bible Study. We're going to get started with our Bible study today. We're in Ephesians 2, verses 11 to 22. And so Paul has been talking about... the work of God in salvation. We saw back in chapter 1 that the Father elected a people to salvation, the Son redeemed those people, and then the Spirit calls and regenerates and seals those people. We then looked at chapter 2 and we saw this work of spiritual resurrection, this regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, We were spiritually dead, and God, by divine sovereign initiative, made us alive. And so we saw last time, by grace, we are saved through faith, not of ourselves, as the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained we should walk in them. We saw that God takes the initiative. He brings us from spiritual death to spiritual life. Then we repent and we believe, and we're saved by grace through faith, not of works. And then once we're saved, God expects us and enables us to do good works the rest of our lives. as expressions of service and gratitude and worship. But the question arises, what about the Jew-Gentile question? What's our relationship now to the Abrahamic covenant and all the promises it contains? What is our relationship to the Jewish nation? There are still two separate groups you would call under the Old Covenant, there was Jew and Gentile. But now, what we're going to see is Christ takes Jew and Gentile and brings them into one body. And as we read in Galatians previously, that there's neither Jew nor Greek, there's neither bond nor free, there's neither male nor female, you're all one in Christ Jesus. So no distinctions now between Jew and Gentile. Both are Christian. Both are in the body of Christ. Both are in the kingdom of God, equally together sharing in the covenant promises made to Abraham and the fathers. All right, that's our passage today. Before we get started with that passage, we want to open our time together in prayer. And so let's see. Who do we have here? Ed in 6XOH. You haven't prayed for us in a while. Ed, if you could open in prayer for us, I'd really appreciate that. Go ahead there, Ed, in 6XOH. Sure, I'd be happy to. Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you this morning. We ask that you watch over us and bless this Bible study. We just ask that you bless each person here that's listening. Touch each heart here, Lord. To know that you love them and that you're willing to... save him, Lord, that he died for us. Much over. Pastor Max, if you leave us, let the Bible say, just as you bless him, guide him as we study the word together. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. And 6XH. Amen, Ed. Thank you so much for that prayer. Much appreciated. All right, the net would like to go is Dave, KE7WKI. Good morning, Dave. Good to have you with us. Appreciate you being there. See you there on the Utah LDR. Okay, we are going to read this passage. Roger, WB7VZL, if you could read for us today, we'd appreciate that. Roger, we're reading together Ephesians 2, verses 11 to 22. That's verse 11 to the end of the chapter there. Roger, go ahead. This is WB7VZL reading from the NASB. "Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by the so-called circumcision, which is performed in the flesh by human hands." Verse 12: "Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who made both into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in his flesh the enmity which is the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in himself he might make the two into one new man. thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And he came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have our access in one spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens. You are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God's household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ himself being the cornerstone, and in whom the whole building being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Back to you, Max. This is WB7 Visitell. Roger, great reading. Thank you for that wonderful passage here. Any comments on this passage? Please come down to your call sign. Roger, please go ahead. This is doing what...this is proposing and telling us that what was impossible for man with this dividing wall being a chasm that is so deep and wide, like the Grand Canyon. He's pulling the Grand Canyon together by the miracle of Christ and his blood. I mean, this is a sea change. I kind of think of Colossians 127, you know, the mystery of God. And this is the powerful mystery of Paul's message over there. Yeah, Roger, well said. And you know, this whole issue of covenantal transition is spoken of over and over again in the Bible. The whole book of Hebrews is about covenantal transition. Romans 9, 10, and 11 is about covenantal transition. Galatians chapter 3 and 4 is about covenantal transition. And now we've got Ephesians chapter 2, verses 11 to 22, which is about covenantal transition. And so this is a big, big, big deal. It's a huge theme in the New Testament, because we have this change. from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. And so the question is, is what are the ramifications of that for the nation of Israel and for our incorporation into that nation? You know, it says in verse 11 that in times past we were Gentiles. And in verse 12, we were without Christ, we were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise that are in the Abrahamic covenant. We didn't have any hope, and we were without God in the world. And so God had this unique relationship with the nation of Israel through the Abrahamic covenant. And then, of course, that people was managed over the process of the centuries. with the old covenant, and the Gentiles were basically excluded, and with rare exceptions, people who were converted to Judaism. But now that Christ has come, you're right, this vast chasm where God said to the Jews, be separate from the Gentiles. Don't mingle with those folks. Now, under the new covenant, Jew and Gentile are brought together. And whereas before we were strangers from the covenants of promise, now we are participants in that Abrahamic covenant of promise. We now have hope. We now have God. We who at one time were far off, as you said, like the distance between the two rims of the Grand Canyon, are now made near to each other by the blood of Christ. So this idea of separation being resolved, of people who were distant from each other being brought together, and both of them enjoying the blessings equally of the Abrahamic covenant is an amazing teaching and transition. And it was hard for the Jews and the Gentiles both to wrap their brain around this. Whereas before they were so alienated from each other, and now they both are participating together in Christ and in the new covenant. So, Roger, I love your illustration. And it's just like God taking the two rims of the Grand Canyon and bringing them together. All right, other comments, please come now. Kevin, go ahead if that's you. KB7 ZXN, yeah, excellent comment all the way around. You know, chapter 2 is quite a remarkable chapter in the Bible. And we go from the graveyard to the throne room of God and from death. unto the fulfillment and like you say the inclusion of participating in the promises to his chosen people and now we're right into it those barriers have been torn down and you know the illustration that he uses as the temple of God, that we are now the temple of God, it's quite striking, especially vivid to them in application, because those that were Jews know that the finest temple in the region, well, probably in the world, was that of the temple in Jerusalem. And, of course, that had a separate court for the Gentiles. And it is a death penalty if you violated some of those barriers. In fact, they tried to... crucify or attack and kill Paul for violating that when he went back to Jerusalem. But the other temple is right there in Ephesus, the Artemis Temple, the magnificent temple, one of the wonders of the world at the time. But yet God, you know, Paul is informing them here that, yes, through Christ, the implications, he goes from the personal salvation and what you're saved for for good works, the implication of that, now you are one, you are the temple, you are God's temple. You know, he talks about in 10, you know, you are his poema, his masterpiece, his creation created in Christ Jesus. Well, you are part of the true temple of God. You know, it's interesting, through the Old Testament, if you study whether the tabernacle, the temporary temple, or the temple itself, and it's... element, it all points to Christ. It all points to Christ in different ways, and that's a fascinating study. Well, now we see that fulfilled, as Christ is the foundation stone, and we are those living stones that Peter talked about in 1 Peter 2, 4, and 5. But we are those living stones, but He is the cornerstone. He is the foundation stone that is rejected. If we remember, in Matthew 16, 18, Christ said, I will build my church. And, of course, he says, upon this rock. You know, Peter, you are a small stone, playing on the name of Peter. Peter, a small stone. You are a stone, Peter. But I am the rock of Jehovah. I am the foundation stone. I am what the church will be built on. And the gates of hell shall not wrestle her down. And so... We are part of that living temple of God and that eternal temple of God. Now the promise of, as you point out, Abraham's covenant is now extended to the Gentiles. Those barriers are brought down. And now instead of going to the temple, the physical temple, now we are the temple, the church, if you will, the assembly of baptized believers. We are that temple. And the implications are just magnificent. KB7, Zuddickson. Yeah, Kevin, you bring out some really good points there. You know, in the early part of Ephesians chapter 2, it talked about the division between God and man and how that was resolved. And now in the latter part of chapter 2, it talks about the division between Jew and Gentile and how that's resolved. And, you know, it says in verse 15, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in the ordinances. That was the old covenant right there. So once the Old Covenant was abolished, he could make of himself of two, one new man, so making peace. And so there's now this peace between Jew and Gentile, whereas before there was this enmity based on and growing out of the terms of the Old Covenant. And so, you know, I really appreciate the contrast you brought out there, Kevin, between the temple of God being physical in the past, and now the temple of God is spiritual. And that's another grand transition. We went from, you know, a class of Levites being the priest to now every believer being a priest. We went from a physical temple to a spiritual temple. We went from animal sacrifices to spiritual sacrifices. And so this transition is described, as you said, in various passages throughout the scriptures, especially in 1 Peter 2. And so this is a marvelous description. We've got one body and a new body. It says that he might reconcile, verse 16, both unto God in one body by the cross. having slain the enmity thereby, so we've got a new community. Now we are involved in the commonwealth of Israel. We are now incorporated into being descendants of Abraham, as it says in Galatians 3.29, and if you be Abraham, and if you be Christ, then are you Abraham's seed and heirs, according to the promise. So incorporated into the Abrahamic covenant and its promises, And then, of course, we're made into a new temple, as you said, in verse 24 and 25, in whom all the building, fitly framed together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom also you are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. So now every local church is a temple of God, made up of living stones, offering spiritual sacrifices with each believer being a priest, And what a transition! They didn't have to go to that building in the middle of Jerusalem anymore. Wherever the local church meets, there is the temple of God, and there is the place we go to worship and offer our spiritual sacrifices. Kevin, great comments there. Thank you for that. All right, other comments, please come down to your call line. Roger, please go ahead. And also, I'm just thinking of those listening, you know, the spiritual sacrifices, of course, that was kind of a pejorative comment from the pagan standpoint. Well, what sacrifices would that be? It's not merely what that word implies. It means... It means humility after the Lord. That's the sacrifice. And that can only be done by God. We don't do that. And I love what Luther did for the church. He furthered, he wanted to reform. That was his intent before he was removed. But that was his intent. And, of course, some historians of the Reformation say that the greatest truth that the Scripture revealed to Luther was the priesthood of all believers. That took down the middleman. as a barrier between God and the people. That was the concept based upon the Word of God. When the Word of God became available to all, that's what, by the collapse of the existing system, that was a barrier. a huge barrier to heaven and to knowing what we're reading today. I'll stop there. That would be something, though. Yeah, Roger, that is a great comment. Thank you for that historical perspective. You know, one of the errors is that there's a special class of men that should be called priests within the church. And as you well said, every single believer without exception is a priest. No longer do we stand back. and watch other people perform priestly functions, we all are priests and we all offer spiritual sacrifices. And those spiritual sacrifices are described for us in the scriptures. It has to do with the spiritual sacrifice of the confession of sin. It has to do with the spiritual sacrifice of offering praise. It has to do with the spiritual sacrifice of offering thanksgiving. Music, singing is a spiritual sacrifice. Praying is a spiritual sacrifice. And so this is something that all believers do. And while we do listen to our pastors preach the Word of God to us because they are gifted, they are not somehow higher or better or even different than the rest of us. They have the spiritual gift, they have an office and a calling, But the Bible nowhere calls them priests. It calls them pastors. It calls them overseers. And so these terms that are used of our leadership of the church, nowhere is the word priest applied specifically to an author. So what we have in the scriptures is the universal priesthood of all believers. And there should never be a case where the leadership are called priests exclusion to the people. And Luther brought that out, and I really appreciate you pointing that out in that historical reference. All right, any other comments on this passage, please come down. Is that extent? Kevin, KB7 is that extent. Go ahead. Yeah, excellent comments. And it is just such a beautiful... illustration here and spiritual truth you know for us positionally for us relationally those barriers you know of course the moral law continues as we've talked about but all those civil and ceremonial barriers have been wiped down in fact we have access you know as symbolized even on the cross during his crucifixion the veil was torn the access to Christ was given to us to all and we are a kingdom of priests, if you will. One of the things, too, I think that is really revealed here that's worth taking note is that believers are to be part of that temple, are to be part of the Lord's churches. And because every believer is to be one of those living stones fitted into this great temple and that as we are discipled through and sanctified, we are fitted in it. to that temple of Christ. And, you know, it is, and until that last stone, that last person is redeemed, our local church is here. So I think, once again, also the only strength and importance that has talked about, you know, in the first chapter Here too, the importance of not only the salvation of our personal relationship with Christ, but according to our one, we live our Christian life, and that is the fellowship with other believers through his local church there. We don't see examples in the Bible of those living a Christian life outside of that church. fellowship through a local church. There, DB7, is that accepted? Yeah, Kevin, that's exactly right. The New Testament knows nothing of unchurched believers. Every believer is expected to be part of a local church. And if you can't find one, you need to form one and be part of the fellowship of believers. So you're right. Ephesians chapter 2, verses 1 to 10, talks about our vertical relationship with God and And then in chapter 2, verses 11 to 22, it talks about our horizontal relationship with our fellow believers. And what you see is that each believer is a living stone placed into a temple of a local church where they offer spiritual sacrifices as a holy priesthood, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. You know, I think it might be helpful for us, Kevin, to just go ahead and read that passage in 1 Peter 2, verses 1-5. In 1 Peter 2, verses 1-5, it says, Wherefore, laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and indies and all evil speaking, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, and so be you tasted that the Lord is gracious. So those first three verses are talking about us being born again. We're spiritual infants. Well, where do spiritual infants grow up? Well, they grow up in a family. Verse 4, to whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious. So we come to Jesus, and Jesus is called here a living stone. He is the chief cornerstone, as Kevin said. Now, here it is, verse 5. You also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house. Now here it is, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. So Peter is talking there in 1 Peter chapter 2 about the same thing Paul is talking here about here in Ephesians 2. And that is that when the believers gather together, they each are a stone. And when all the stones are present, then the temple is constructed. And within that temple, the believers then are priests who offer spiritual sacrifices to God. And thereby, they engage in corporate worship. They engage in mutual ministry. and they engage in being that dwelling place of God. You remember Jesus said, where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst. And that was spoken in the context of the gathering of the local church there in Matthew chapter 18 in verses 15 to 20. And so here, once again, we see the church being formed into a temple. What's the foundation? Verse 20, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. So what is the local church built on? It's built on Christ. And what is its doctrine? Well, the doctrine of the apostles and the prophets. And then what does it do? It's framed together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. And what do we become? Verse 22, we become a habitation of God through the Spirit. So when the church gathers together, that becomes the dwelling place of God. And just like when Moses completed the tabernacle in the Old Testament, the Shekinah glory of God came and inhabited it. Remember? Dwelt above with a mercy seat there in the Holy of Holies. And in the same way, when the local church gathers for its stated meetings, Christ comes and inhabits that assembly with His special personal presence. And there is where we meet with Him, there is where we worship Him, there is where we learn of Him and from Him, and offer spiritual sacrifices to Him. So you're right, Kevin. The local church is incredibly important. It's right at the center of the new covenant kingdom of God, just like the temple was at the center of the old covenant kingdom of God. And we can't dispense with a local church. So it's important for us to find one, be part of one, participate in one. and be part of that living stone that makes up the Holy Temple, and then be the priest within it that offers spiritual sacrifices and meets there with Jesus in a special way that we don't meet with him anywhere else. All right, great comments there, Kevin. Thank you for that. Any other comments, please come down. That was a good one. That was a good one. Roger, please go ahead. Yes, I sure want to be open to anyone else that wants to share their wonderful insights for the Holy Spirit as we meet together. I was challenged by looking up the Isaiah 57, 19 passage. And it kind of puts its arms around all nations of the everlasting, why should I say the Abrahamic covenant. You know, the Abrahamic covenant, of course, this covenant was to go to all. All nations will be blessed by the seed from Abraham, our Lord Jesus. And the word peace apparently is what Paul had in mind. If he uses peace in the surrounding verses quite a bit, I noticed in verse 14 and in 15, both use peace. And that must be the motivating factor for him to draw on his, I'm sure, tremendous knowledge of the gospel prophet of Isaiah. And that's how he quotes that in verse 17. Yeah. Yeah, Roger, really well said. I'll just read that, Isaiah 5715. It says here, or let's see, that was 19, yeah, 5719 I think you said, Roger. I create the fruit of the lips, peace, peace to him that is afar off and to him that is near, sayeth the Lord, and I will heal him. So you're right. The peace is to him that is afar off and to him that is near. And that's exactly what Paul is saying here when at one time we were afar off and separated. But now we've been made near, it says in verse 13, by the blood of Christ. And as you said, he is our peace. who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the law of commandments claimed in ordinances for to make of himself of two one new man, once again so making peace. So, Roger, thanks for that emphasis on peace between Jew and Gentile that's been accomplished in the New Covenant through replacing the Old Covenant that demands separation. Now the New Covenant demands unity. between Jew and Gentile. So Jesus came to make peace between us and God. He also came to make peace between Jew and Gentile, indeed between every class and category of person. So now when we gather in the church, it doesn't matter if they're old or young, rich or poor, male or female, black or white. No categories matter. If you're alive and you're breathing and you're human, you are equal with and accepted in the same terms as everyone else. And so there's no division in the body. We all are in peace with each other. And I'll tell you, when you go to a local church, the disparate backgrounds that are represented there, you would never tend to find those people and hang out with them under any other circumstance. But because they know Jesus and you know Jesus, there's a profound connection and unity between you and them that transcends. All of the differences that ordinarily would keep us from ever having much of anything to do with each other. So, Roger, thank you for pointing out the way the dynamic of the gospel takes people and brings them together and binds them together into their common love for Jesus, worship of Jesus, and salvation that Jesus has provided. All right, other comments? Please come down here. WB7, Lisa Delp Roger, go ahead with your follow up Yeah, I didn't hear anybody else and Kevin certainly jumped in here, but anybody else I'm just extrapolating from this message of our chapter today, chapter 3 Well, at the end of Chapter 2 of Ephesians, we should be able to see this message cross barriers in all our world today. It's meant for the world. and so it's meant for Islam, it's meant for Mormons, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Seventh-day Adventists, it's meant for all these barriers that we put up. We think of ourselves as Christians, but it actually is a clip by this message of Jesus and the covenant. that the original covenant is actually to bring the whole world under this great news of barriers being broken down. And, of course, the adversary, who is the thief that comes and steals and wants to steal, kill, and destroy, he hates this message. WB7, please go ahead. Yeah, Roger, and that's one reason why the New Testament contains so much exhortation about having peace and unity in our churches. because Satan would like to do nothing better than to divide Christians from each other. And so what is our unity? It's the foundation of Jesus Christ, and it's the doctrine of the apostles and the prophets. And so our source of authority is the Word of God. Our object of worship is the Son of God. and our fellow Christians are the people of God. And so when we gather together in trust in Jesus, in following the teachings of Jesus and his apostles and prophets, then we are a unified temple. Then we do have peace among ourselves. And that's the reason why we read the Bible here on the West Coast Bible Study. We try to all conform to it. And as we conform to Christ and His Word, we have peace and unity among ourselves. And so it says in verse 17, He came and preached peace to you which were far off and to them which were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father, Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens of the saints and of the household of God. So we are all unified, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ is the sole object of our trust and our faith, and built around him. We are that holy temple, and God comes and he dwells among us. And so, Kevin, I think it was mentioned that the veil in the temple was torn in half from top to bottom, showing that the old way of access to God had been abrogated, and now the new way to God was through Jesus Christ. And now we have that new temple where we can all with open face behold him and be transformed from glory to glory even into the image of God. So what a blessing it is to be in a church, to be focused on Jesus, to be attached to our fellow believers, to be learning the doctrine of the apostles and the prophets. to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices to God in the special presence of Jesus, where we are taught and where we fellowship and where we learn. It's a glorious thing to be part of a biblically functioning local church, because it's there that all the implications of the gospel and expressions of the gospel come to their highest degree. expression and their greatest experience. So what a blessing that is. Of course, when you don't have a biblically functioning local church, it becomes a nightmare. And I know that many on this net have experienced that. And the solution is to give up on the church, is to go find one that is actually functioning biblically and reflects what we're seeing in this passage. The peace, the unity, the submission to the authority of Jesus and the apostles and prophets contained in the scriptures, And with the whole attitude of let's bring glory to God here. Let's bring worship to Christ and give him the spiritual sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise and singing. All right, we are out of time. Any final comments before we take prayer requests? Any final comments? Please go ahead. 0, X-ray. Kevin, this is KB7BX. I heard two voices there. Roger, was that your voice? Go ahead. Just letting you know that Kevin's there, over. Copy that. Kevin, KB7BX, your voice was the other one I heard. Go ahead, there. Yeah, very good. And just excellent comments. You know, this is a mystery that has been revealed in the New Testament. You know, God has made, our Lord has made His permanent residence with, you know, His symbols, imperfect, forgiven, spirit-filled believers. You and I. And this is His plan. This is what He's chosen. And what a blessing it is. I know Paul talks about this also in 1 Corinthians 3, 11 through 16 as well. Makes me think about point here, really. And what a blessing it is that we have to fellowship together in Christ. And His presence is not metaphorical. His presence is not symbolic, symbolic. I'm so glad you mentioned Matthew 18:20. He is amongst his churches as we faithfully follow him. TB7, Reddick Center. - All right, Kevin, great conclusion. Thank you for that excellent comment there. All right, let's go to prayer now. And are there any final prayer requests before Al leads us in prayer? Please come down with your prayer request. Yes, I'd like to have you pray for Levi. I met him in the parking lot, ended up having through with him. He was a fellow that was all dressed up, including a chain holding a brass knuckle, so to speak, around him ready for the next fight or whatever. And I was we had a renewal of his latent experience. So that's for, that's Levi. Over. All right, thank you for that, Roger. We will pray for Levi, for his salvation. Levi is a young man that Roger's sharing the gospel with. So let's pray for Levi and for his salvation. Copy there, Al? - Good copy, anything else? - All right, real good. Any other prayer requests, please come down. Alright now, KJ7QQH, please close in prayer for us. Thank you Pastor Max, this is KJ7QQH. Good morning to all on the net. Let's all come together in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time together in your word. And we thank you for the means by which we're able to do this. And the technology that you've provided. We want to bring you our prayers and praises today. We have Roger, WB7BBL, and we join him in lifting up Autumn in her transition through this stage of her probation. her bike transportation and progress towards independent living. We also looked up Levi, who was a fellow that Roger met, ministered to, and shared the gospel with. And we prayed for his salvation. We joined Brother Kevin, KB7ZXS, and his wife Jose, who are going to be traveling to Boise on Thursday. We asked for safety for them as they traveled. We lift up our brother Steve, W6YSI, for Steve was a veterinarian for his mother, Marilyn, in her older years, providing a place for her to receive proper care. And she's currently recovering from COVID and pneumonia. As for healing and also provisions for a place for her, we lift up Sandy, WS7FAB, and we pray for the continued healing of her hip surgery. And praise for the reports that we received from Beck that she's progressing well, and that the good reports that we're getting from him. For Brian, KA7CIP, we pray for the healing of the pain in his neck, that that will, be healed and relieved. We join our brother Ed, N6XOH, as he anxiously awaits the return of his wife Anne from Sacramento, who's traveling today to Prineville. We pray for safe travel for her. For Jennifer, aka 6OK, who had an MRI on Sunday, we pray for an accurate diagnosis for his back pain. For Mark, W7UAR, and we join him in lifting up Todd. whose double lung transplant is failing and his body is rejecting that, we've created, he is able to obtain another lung transplant that we'll take and will be a relief for him and for Jerry KG6J for an unspoken request for health and life issues. We pray that you would meet his needs there. For doc W6RLJ, we pray for his serious health issues and you We looked up our brother Darrell, WB7AOT. who is healing from his urology issues. We ask for healing for him. For Cody, K-I-7-T-R-F, and his niece Zoe, we pray for her salvation. Charpo, N-7-B-E-S, for Trevor, who just finished seven weeks of chemo and radiation treatment. He's weak and having difficulties flowing. He's also having trouble with his right arm. He's dealing with his faith that it's better now, but he still struggles with doubts. We pray for Charles and his wife Linda's marriage to be strengthened. For Keith, WB7, RKR, for the healing of his damaged bicep, and his wife Ronnie, who has Alzheimer's. We pray that it does not progress, for the strength and wisdom of Keith in caring for her. For our brother, Bert. W7RCD and his wife, Dani. We pray for the remission of her multiple sclerosis. We join our brother, Mike, W7TWO, who we join him in lifting up Betty who is carrying on in the absence of her husband, Doug, who passed into, when you called it home, not where it was born. We pray that she's able to find her way and be able to live and give her the strength in dealing with life in general. and we also pray for peace throughout the world and we pray for those after you we pray for the amount of people listening to us here and we know that you hear their prayers as well and we ask that in your mercy you would hear those prayers and with that Lord we thank you for your goodness, your mercy, and your grace to each one of us, and for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, through whom we pray all these things. Amen. This is KJ7. Shoot you later. Bring it back to you. That's the next. Net Control. Well, thank you so much for that prayer. I really appreciate that. This is WB7 in the X-Net Control for the West Coast Bible Study. I want to thank all the stations who checked in this morning. even with these difficult bank conditions. Thank you also to the stations who stood by to give us a clear operating frequency. We meet here seven days a week at 6 a.m. in order to read the scriptures, understand their meaning message and application, and then to pray for grace and mercy to be able to live out what we learned and for God to meet the needs of those that are in our circle of fellowship. I'll be returning this frequency now to regular amateur use. This is WB7MX. I'll be clear and standing by I didn't hear Beck today, over. Beck checked in. Beck and Sandy both checked in. He said he was just going to be a listener today. Beck, Alpha Alpha 5 Yankee, do you have our joke of the day, over? Yeah, I understand. Yeah, so he probably had to take care of some chores or some issues or something. So anyway, Roger, yeah, Beck's not here, but we appreciate his presence and his fellowship with us for sure. Let's see, I heard something the other day. Okay, here it is, Roger. What's the least spoken language in the world? What's the least spoken language in the world? Oh, boy. I think Navajo was the least written language, I guess, during World War II. Over. Yeah, the least spoken language in the world is? Sign language. I love it. I like that. I was going to say silence, but that works. Yeah, yeah, it does for sure. All right, WB7MAX standing by. Well, getting back to our passage, it's still a mystery on how this wonderful unity of breaking the barriers down that... will be the wrap-up before our Lord returns. How all this division that we see even in our world, I'm hopeful that the wonderful prediction in the last days, like it was Joel too, that the Lord will do a lot of work with dreams and visions, As controversial as that may be, but there's been a lot of reports that Jesus Christ is showing up in the Islam world and mixing things up a bit. Yeah, copy that. There are a lot more Christians in Muslim nations than people realize because the news about them can't get out. And the gospel is penetrating there. They're pretty sick of Islam and all of the murder and killing and slaughter. Because, you know, Islam is a religion of murder. It's a religion of killing, stealing, and destroying. That's their jihad. And, boy, a lot of Muslims are hating that. And that's what's really happening in Iran, you know, where the vast majority of people in Iran are not Muslims. The Muslims have seized control of that nation, and I'm hoping there's going to be a regime change, and the Persians, who are not typically Arabic and not Muslim, will be able to rise up and take control. But I hear reports from clandestine missionaries quite a bit. about the penetration of the gospel into Muslim countries. And some of that, as you said, has to do with Muslims having dreams about Jesus and then finding a Bible and reading it. A good friend of mine, Ibram Muhammad, grew up in Mali there in Africa. And he was raised in a strong Muslim family until he was 20 years old. And God brought him to salvation, and I asked him about these dreams. And he said, "You know, the dreams are the thing that initially awaken them to an awareness of Jesus." He said, "And then they go and they find a Bible and they start reading it, and from then on they're really Bible-based Christians." And so he said God's using that to bring them to an awareness of their need for Jesus, and then they find their doctrine about Jesus in the scriptures. So it's really encouraging, Roger, that God is using extraordinary means to bring Muslims to himself in spite of the fact that gospel preaching is not allowed in Islamic countries. Back to you there, Roger. Yeah, yeah, that's very encouraging to hear, Matt, and your contact with that Christian, yeah, that international contact. Well, as priests, we're sure called to make sure that that we're filled with God's love to cross all barriers around us and to do our best with all the diversity that is among us, including, you know, right in here, right with our house here. But we had dinner together yesterday, and we're just praying, as I've mentioned to her, she can be a witness today. to others that she meets as a kind of a, well, she really doesn't, I don't think, mind to be, in a sense, homeless. I think she may be at the camp here of the county. But I have no idea. Her details of her life is very, very kept close. She'd like to be anonymous, so to speak, in this world if that's possible. So anyway. Yeah, to be priests, to break down barriers among people is certainly a marvelous commission from our Lord Jesus. And as you read in 1 Peter chapter 2, that was the powerful voice of the Reformation. So kind of put away the middleman religion, Albert. Yeah, amen. And, you know, one of the primary activities of a priest is intercession. And that's one of the things we can do is pray for other people. You know, our Lord Jesus, it says, ever lives to make intercession for us. And as imitators of Christ, we should ever live to make intercession for others. And so we should be in constant prayer throughout the day for the issues revolving around the kingdom of God. People who need to get saved, people who need to become healed, people who need to grow, people who need to overcome sin, people who need strength and grace in ministry, people who are doing evangelism. There's so many things to pray about. And that's why it says in 1 Thessalonians, pray without fear. And so as priests, we can always be before the throne room of God, bringing our petitions to God, because that's one of the spiritual sacrifices that we offer to him. So, Roger, thank you for those encouraging words. let's continue to minister throughout the day from our hearts in prayer to God at his throne of grace over yeah thank you thank you I'm taking a lady that has just recently lost a husband and he's going to pray to the Lord. and there were children involved. And she has withdrawn from the church because another lady that was also married to him and who had children also goes to the same church. And she has backed off since the death of this person because of a bit of... anger over the care of him because they both loved him but he his alcohol just turned him at a different into a different person very charismatic type of person and so they're just division and the adversary is just on his back so for the first time this morning For quite some time, at least since his death, I'm taking this lady by the name of Sherry back to the church for a prayer meeting. And there's a good chance to see other lady that they've had some rough patches since his death. You know, whether it's over the will, you know, the house, with the kids involved, it's kind of like Jacob's family, you know. You get multiple wives. So that's this morning at 10:00. And Sherry and Jennifer, may things go well. And I just need lots of priestly Holy Spirit. Over. Amen, Roger. Thank you for sharing that. I will sure pray for Sherry and Jennifer today that there will be peace and love and forgiveness if necessary and reconciliation between the two of them because, you know, it doesn't help to add to the grief of the loss of a loved one to have fighting among the survivors. of that loved one. But oftentimes that's the case, and I understand the dynamic, but we just need to pray that both parties will humble down and love each other in Christ. So, Raj, thanks for sharing that prayer request, and I will pray for both of them. Thank you very much, very, very much. WB7VZL, and I'll look forward to tomorrow, and I was very blessed to hear your signal actually quite strong. Just a slight attenuation through the middle of it, but it picked up again. It was much better than the day before or the day before. So I just hope that others will be able to hear it. were able to hear that wonderful passage and participate within their wonderful spiritual mind. WB7VZL, bye-bye Max. All right, Roger, thank you for the fellowship. I sure enjoy it. WB7VZL73 to you and Daylene, you guys have a great day. This is WB7MX and I am clear with Roger and I'm standing by. N7BKE. N7BKE, Jim, go ahead. I heard you and Roger discussing when I just got back from visiting with the family over at the retirement home, and I thought I'd let you know I checked in earlier this morning. I'm here 20 after six, but nobody was around. So I just left the message on the air for people to check in. And I took off. Otherwise, all's well here. I had my yearly physical yesterday. And the doctors and the EKG is good. Your lungs look just as bad as normal. And all things will go. Looks like you're going to come out okay. Well, real good, Tim. Yeah, my alarm goes off at 5:20 and I don't turn the radio on until about 5:25, so that's why I missed you. I don't know if others are up at that time of morning or not, but I'm always ready for check-ins at 5:40, so it takes me about 20 minutes to get up, get going, get the SDRs up. and get my passage and be ready to go. So anyway, we just missed each other by a couple minutes there, Jim, but I'm glad to hear that your physical went well. Yep, your lungs are as bad as ever, but they're still working. Praise the Lord. You're a walking medical miracle. God has been so gracious to sustain you. But glad your blood work is good. And Jim, we continue to pray for your evangelistic efforts reaching the folks there that you have breakfast with. Back to you there, Jim. Yeah, I'm free. Thank you very much. I need prayer. See you. Let the Lord-- really moved to me to talk to those people because you talk to them and they don't know even who the Lord is. Some of them have been out in the world so bad and then they're coming in there just to pass away. Druggies and alcoholics and you know what else that the state puts in there just to get them out of the sight of other people I guess. But it just gave me the opportunity to I'm just a witness to them, that's the main thing. They always say, most of them will say, "We're glad to see you. You're trying to make us feel better every morning when you come in." Well, that's the Lord shining through me. I'm just a witness for him. So I'll pray it all goes well. I'll get a chance to bring some of them close to the Lord before they pass away. Okay, Pastor Max, I'll let you go. Yeah, I talked quite a bit this morning and talked to people. I didn't hear anybody. Nobody responded. I noticed people listening. There's a lot of LDS listening, but they don't say anything. But they are listening. And them words that go out are changing their hearts and their minds, and that's the main thing. Let you go. November 7. Bravo Kilo Echo. Alright Jim, real good. We love you brother and we'll talk to you tomorrow, God willing. N7DKE73 to you, this is WB7MX, I'm clear and standing by.. Alright, this is WB7MAX, I'm clearing QRT, I'll see you all tomorrow, God bless. Thank you. .

Summary

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### Scripture Reading (KJV)

Ephesians 2:11-22
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

### Study Summary

This Bible study delves into Ephesians 2:11-22, a passage that highlights the profound transformation brought about by Christ's work in reconciling both Jews and Gentiles. The study begins by recalling previous teachings on God's work in salvation, emphasizing election, redemption, regeneration, and sealing. The focus then shifts to the unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ, a key theme in this passage.

Ephesians 2:11-12 describes the Gentiles as once being separated from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise. However, Ephesians 2:13-16 reveals that Christ has bridged this gap, making both Jew and Gentile one in Him. The enmity between them has been abolished, and they now have access to the Father through the Spirit, as mentioned in Ephesians 2:17-18. This unity is further emphasized in Ephesians 2:19-22, where the Gentiles are described as now being fellow citizens with the saints, part of God's household, and built into a holy temple in the Lord.

The study uses the Grand Canyon as an analogy to illustrate the vast chasm between Jew and Gentile, which Christ has brought together. This transition from a physical temple to a spiritual temple, where believers are living stones, underscores the importance of every believer being a priest, offering spiritual sacrifices as described in 1 Peter 2:1-5. The local church is highlighted as the dwelling place of God, where believers gather to worship and offer spiritual sacrifices.

Questions and answers further explore the differences between the Old and New Covenants, emphasizing that the New Covenant abolishes the enmity and barriers between Jew and Gentile, making them one in Christ. The significance of the temple imagery in Ephesians 2 is discussed, signifying that believers are now the temple of God, offering spiritual sacrifices and being a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. The concept of every believer being a priest, offering spiritual sacrifices to God, is also emphasized.

The study concludes with a focus on the importance of peace and unity in the church, emphasizing the foundation of Christ and the doctrine of the apostles and prophets. Prayer requests are made for various individuals, including Autumn, Levi, Steve and Marilyn, Sandy, Brian, Anne, Jennifer, and Todd, covering a range of needs from spiritual growth to healing and safe travel.
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